Makedonski Telekom

Makedonski Telekom AD is a North Macedonian telecommunications operator headquartered in Skopje. It provides fixed-line voice services, mobile communications, broadband internet, data connectivity, IPTV and related digital and business services. The company operates the country’s national fixed telecommunications network and is a leading provider in both the fixed and mobile markets. The present company emerged from the separation of the former PTT Makedonija, which had combined telecommunications, postal, banking and related activities. On 1 January 1997, the telecommunications activities were separated from the postal business and placed in AD Makedonski Telekomunikacii. The company was registered as a joint-stock company in public ownership in March 1998 as part of preparations for privatization. A decisive ownership change occurred in January 2001, when a consortium led by the Hungarian telecommunications company Matav acquired 51 percent of the company from the government. Matav later became part of the Magyar Telekom and Deutsche Telekom corporate structure. The company adopted the Deutsche Telekom identity in 2008, replacing its previous corporate presentation with the group’s distinctive T brand. During this period, the business marketed fixed and broadband services under T-Home and mobile services under T-Mobile Macedonia, while also developing combined Double Play and Triple Play packages. The mobile business has roots in MobiMak, which began operating in September 1996 as the country’s first GSM mobile operator. It was renamed T-Mobile Macedonia in 2006 and later consolidated into Makedonski Telekom. In July 2015, T-Mobile Macedonia ceased to exist as a separate legal entity, with its employees, assets and liabilities transferred to Makedonski Telekom. In September of the same year, the company announced that T-Home and T-Mobile would be discontinued as product brands and that the unified Telekom brand would cover the consumer and business portfolio. Makedonski Telekom has invested heavily in the migration of its fixed infrastructure from legacy systems to IP-based networks. Its services include VoIP fixed telephony, broadband access, fiber-to-the-home connectivity, data communications, equipment leasing and systems integration. The company also introduced MaxTV, an IPTV service launched in 2008 that combined television channels with interactive digital features. Its mobile network has supported successive generations of cellular technology, including GPRS, EDGE, 4G LTE and later network modernization initiatives. In 2024, the company announced plans to shut down its 3G network by the end of April so that spectrum and network resources could be redirected toward faster, more efficient and higher-quality connectivity. Makedonski Telekom remains an active national operator and an important member of the Deutsche Telekom group, serving residential, enterprise and institutional customers across North Macedonia.

Makedonski Telekom’s corporate history is rooted in the restructuring of the former PTT Makedonija, the state organization that had combined postal, telecommunications, banking and related functions in the Republic of Macedonia. On 1 January 1997, the telecommunications activities were separated from the postal business and organized as AD Makedonski Telekomunikacii, while postal activities were transferred to a separate company. The new telecommunications company inherited the relevant network assets and liabilities. In March 1998 it was registered as a joint-stock company in public ownership, creating the legal and organizational basis for privatization. The privatization process culminated on 15 January 2001, when the government signed an agreement with a consortium led by the Hungarian operator Matav. The consortium acquired 51 percent of the company, giving it controlling ownership. Matav subsequently became part of the Magyar Telekom structure, which itself belongs to the wider Deutsche Telekom group. The North Macedonian government continued to retain a direct stake after the transaction. The company’s mobile history predates the 1997 corporate formation. In September 1996, MobiMak began operating as the first GSM mobile operator in the country. The mobile operation became T-Mobile Macedonia in 2006 after its acquisition and integration into the Deutsche Telekom family. From 2001 onward, Makedonski Telekom developed as the principal fixed-network operator while the mobile business operated through a separate subsidiary. A major branding transition took place on 1 May 2008, when Makedonski Telekomunikacii adopted Deutsche Telekom’s corporate identity and the group’s T branding. Fixed-line and home services were marketed as T-Home, while mobile services used T-Mobile Macedonia. The new identity accompanied the introduction and expansion of bundled services, including Double Play and Triple Play offers that combined telephony, internet access and entertainment. The operator undertook a substantial modernization of its fixed network during the early 2010s. Fiber-to-the-home deployment expanded optical access in several North Macedonian cities. In parallel, the company implemented an IP-based multimedia subsystem for VoIP and the migration of traditional public switched telephone network infrastructure. By June 2012, approximately 100,000 customers had been moved to the new platform. Deutsche Telekom stated in 2014 that Makedonski Telekom had become the first incumbent European operator to complete the conversion of its PSTN infrastructure to an all-IP network. The migration covered roughly 290,000 fixed lines and required more than two years of work. Television became another important part of the integrated-service portfolio. In November 2008, the company launched MaxTV, described as the country’s first digital television offering. The IPTV service combined a large television-channel package with interactive functions and was distributed through the operator’s broadband infrastructure. In 2015, the corporate structure and consumer branding were simplified. Effective 1 July, T-Mobile Macedonia was merged into Makedonski Telekom. The mobile subsidiary ceased to exist as a separate legal entity, while its staff, assets and liabilities were transferred to Makedonski Telekom. On 3 September, the company announced that the T-Home and T-Mobile product brands would also be retired in favor of the single Telekom brand. That same year, the company became associated with a national wiretapping scandal involving alleged abuses by senior political figures and security officials. The Special Prosecution criticized Makedonski Telekom for failing to cooperate with the investigation. Deutsche Telekom responded by directing Magyar Telekom to conduct an internal inquiry, but the results were not made public. Makedonski Telekom continues to operate as an integrated telecommunications and entertainment provider. Its activities include mobile voice and data, fixed-line VoIP, broadband, fiber access, IPTV, enterprise connectivity and systems integration. In March 2024, it announced the planned closure of its 3G network by the end of April, a generation transition intended to improve network capacity, service quality and energy efficiency.

1. 2024Announces 3G retirement

   Makedonski Telekom announced that its 3G network would be shut down by the end of April to support faster connectivity, improved quality and greater energy efficiency.

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2. 2015T-Mobile Macedonia merged into Makedonski Telekom

   The mobile subsidiary ceased to be a separate legal entity on 1 July and was absorbed into Makedonski Telekom.

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3. 2015Unified Telekom brand introduced

   The company announced the discontinuation of T-Home and T-Mobile as product brands and their replacement by the Telekom umbrella brand.

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4. 2014All-IP migration recognized

   Deutsche Telekom reported that Makedonski Telekom had converted its fixed PSTN infrastructure to an all-IP network after migrating approximately 290,000 lines.

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5. 2011Begins all-IP fixed-network modernization

   The company began deploying a new internet-based multimedia platform to support VoIP, broadband convergence and migration away from legacy fixed exchanges.

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6. 2008Adopts Deutsche Telekom’s T identity

   On 1 May, the company adopted the Deutsche Telekom group identity and began operating under the Makedonski Telekom name, with T-Home and T-Mobile used as service brands.

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7. 2008MaxTV IPTV launched

   Makedonski Telekom introduced MaxTV, a digital television service delivered through its IPTV platform.

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8. 2006MobiMak becomes T-Mobile Macedonia

   The mobile operation adopted the T-Mobile Macedonia name within the Deutsche Telekom corporate family.

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9. 2001Matav-led consortium acquires controlling stake

   On 15 January, a consortium led by Matav acquired 51 percent of the company from the government.

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10. 1998Registered as a public joint-stock company

    The company was registered as a joint-stock company in public ownership as part of the preparation for privatization.

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11. 1997Telecommunications separated from PTT Makedonija

    AD Makedonski Telekomunikacii was established on 1 January after the former combined postal and telecommunications organization was divided into separate entities.

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12. 1996MobiMak launches the country’s first GSM mobile service

    MobiMak began operating as the first GSM mobile operator in the Republic of Macedonia, establishing the mobile-business lineage later associated with Makedonski Telekom.

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A nationwide integrated communications provider combining mobile, fixed-line, broadband, television and enterprise connectivity under the Deutsche Telekom group identity.

• Mobile telecommunicationsMobile communications1996

  Makedonski Telekom provides nationwide mobile voice and data services descended from the MobiMak operation launched in 1996. The business has supported successive network technologies, including GSM, GPRS, EDGE, 4G LTE and later-generation modernization. Its mobile services are sold to residential and business customers under the Telekom brand and use the 070, 071 and 072 number prefixes.

• Fixed-line and VoIP servicesFixed telecommunications1997

  The company operates North Macedonia’s national fixed telecommunications network and provides fixed voice services through an IP-based VoIP platform. Legacy analog and PSTN infrastructure was progressively migrated to an all-IP architecture, enabling the operator to maintain fixed calling while integrating voice with broadband and television bundles.

• Broadband and fiber internetInternet access

  Makedonski Telekom offers broadband internet, data communications and fiber-to-the-home access. Its network modernization program expanded optical infrastructure in cities including Skopje, Kumanovo, Štip, Strumica, Ohrid and Gostivar. Broadband connectivity also serves as the infrastructure for its converged voice and IPTV products.

• MaxTVIPTV and digital television2008

  MaxTV is Makedonski Telekom’s IPTV offering, launched in November 2008 as one of the company’s principal entertainment services. It combines television distribution with interactive features and is delivered over the operator’s broadband and IP infrastructure. The service was designed to complement fixed voice and internet subscriptions in bundled packages.

• Double Play and Triple PlayConverged communications bundles2008

  The company’s converged bundles combine combinations of fixed voice, broadband internet, mobile connectivity and television. Introduced and expanded during the Deutsche Telekom branding period, these packages reflect Makedonski Telekom’s strategy of selling communications and entertainment as an integrated household proposition.

• Business data and systems integrationEnterprise telecommunications

  For business and institutional customers, Makedonski Telekom provides data communications, equipment sale and leasing, connectivity and systems integration services. These activities extend the company beyond consumer voice and internet products into managed communications and enterprise technology support.

• 2024Planned 3G network shutdownGeneration change

  The operator sought to redirect network capacity and operating resources from an older mobile generation toward newer connectivity technologies.

  What changed. Makedonski Telekom announced that it would shut down its 3G network by the end of April 2024.

  Aftermath. The stated objectives were higher speeds, improved service quality, better connectivity and greater energy efficiency.

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• 2015Legal consolidation with T-Mobile MacedoniaM&A

  The fixed and mobile businesses were operated through separate legal entities despite belonging to the same corporate group.

  What changed. Makedonski Telekom and T-Mobile Macedonia completed a legal merger effective 1 July, transferring the mobile company’s employees, assets and liabilities to Makedonski Telekom.

  Aftermath. The company became a single integrated operator and later placed its full portfolio under the Telekom brand.

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• 2015Retirement of T-Home and T-Mobile product brandsStrategy

  The legal consolidation of the fixed and mobile businesses created an opportunity to simplify the customer-facing brand architecture.

  What changed. The company announced that T-Home and T-Mobile would be discontinued as separate product brands and replaced by Telekom as the umbrella brand.

  Aftermath. Fixed, mobile, broadband and entertainment services were presented as one unified portfolio for consumer and business customers.

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• 2011Migration of the fixed network to an IP platformStrategy

  Legacy digital telephone exchanges and traditional PSTN infrastructure limited the integration of voice, broadband and next-generation multimedia services.

  What changed. The company deployed an IMS-based, internet-oriented multimedia platform for VoIP and began migrating fixed customers to the new architecture.

  Aftermath. The program enabled broader all-IP service delivery and prepared the network for converged communications.

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• 2008Adoption of the Deutsche Telekom identityStrategy

  Following its integration into the Deutsche Telekom family, the company sought a unified corporate identity and a broader converged-services proposition.

  What changed. Makedonski Telekomunikacii adopted the group’s T branding and marketed fixed and mobile products through T-Home and T-Mobile.

  Aftermath. The rebrand was accompanied by expanded bundled products, including Double Play and Triple Play offers.

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• 2001Privatization through sale of a controlling stakeM&A

  The government sought to transform the state-owned telecommunications operator and bring in a strategic telecommunications investor.

  What changed. A consortium led by Matav acquired 51 percent of Makedonski Telekomunikacii on 15 January 2001.

  Aftermath. The transaction established private control and ultimately placed the company within the Magyar Telekom and Deutsche Telekom group structure.

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• 2015North Macedonian wiretapping scandalControversy

  Makedonski Telekom was drawn into a large national wiretapping investigation involving alleged abuses by senior political figures and employees of the Security and Counterespionage Agency. The Special Prosecution stated that the company had not cooperated with the investigation. Deutsche Telekom instructed Magyar Telekom to carry out an internal investigation, but the findings were not made public.

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• 2024Makedonski Telekom announces 3G network shutdown

  The operator announced that it intended to shut down its 3G network by the end of April 2024, citing improved connectivity, higher speeds, service quality and energy efficiency.

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• 2015Makedonski Telekom consolidates with T-Mobile Macedonia

  T-Mobile Macedonia ceased to operate as a separate legal entity and was absorbed into Makedonski Telekom, with its personnel, assets and liabilities transferred to the parent operating company.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2015T-Home and T-Mobile brands replaced by a unified Telekom brand

  The company announced the retirement of the T-Home and T-Mobile Macedonia product brands and the adoption of Telekom as the umbrella brand for consumer and business services.

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1. Makedonski Telekom